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Gang-gang 100 years ago, the phoney war

David Ellery

World War I, like World War II 25 years later, began more with a whimper than a bang if you take the contemporary news reports at face value. One hundred years ago, The Sydney Morning Herald was reporting on something that seemed fairly close to a phoney war, particularly at sea.

"Desultory fighting has taken place in the North Sea between British patrolling squadrons and German reconnoitring cruisers," the SMH's war news summary stated. "There were no losses on either side.

"The British expeditionary force has landed in France. The movement was carried out with remarkable secrecy and precision. Lord Kitchener, in a message to the troops, said: 'Be sure your conduct justifies the welcome awaiting you'.

"The French people were frantic with joy when the British landed. The [British] troops are reported to be in the highest spirits, singing marching songs on their way to the front.

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"The French Embassy in London reports the Liege Forts are still holding out, and not one has been captured.

"The spirit of the French troops is strengthened by their confidence that their artillery is superior to that of the enemy.

"The press bureau warns the enemy is trying to spread false reports and the censor has already stopped the canard that a distinguished highland regiment has lost a whole battalion.

"It is officially announced that all is well for the Belgian Army. German cavalry patrols have been sighted north of Antwerp.

"The Belgian government has issued a reassuring proclamation that fortified positions are fully manned.

"The Germans on Monday made a fresh attempt to cross the Meuse [River] by bridge assault. The French artillery stopped this with heavy losses to the enemy."

Alas, with the benefit of hindsight, the heavy hand of the censor can be seen at work here. The situation was far from being as rosy as the above makes out.

This was the height of what is now known as the "Battle of the Frontiers" and the Germans made strong inroads against the French and Belgian forces.

It was not until the Miracle of the Marne from September 5 to September 12 that the Germans were pushed back 51 kilometres and Paris, and France, was saved.

On the Eastern Front, the reports were even more misleading with claims the Russians had won the upper hand in their invasion of East Prussia in early August.

The reverse was the case. Germany emerged as the clear victor in the Battle of Tannenberg, which raged from August 17 to September 2.

The German commander, General Paul von Hindenburg, was fated to play a part in Hitler's rise to power two decades later.